This camera can take 32 images at up to one billion frames per second
Designer and manufacturer of ultra-high-speed imaging cameras, Specialised Imaging, has released the SIMD32, a double shot multichannel framing camera.
The camera, which can take up to 32 images without creating shading or parallax at up to one billion frames per second, was delivered to the Plasma Physics research group in the Department of Physics at Imperial College (London).
“The camera will be used to capture events such as high-pressure shockwave effects, plasma jets, Z-pinches, and extreme states of matter to help develop our understand of fusion energy generation,” said Simon Bland, professor of plasma physics at Imperial College. “For these types of applications – the SIMD32 is the only camera capable of taking enough images at the speeds we need, which is typically hundreds of millions of frames per second.”
The camera’s custom software package allows users to control a range of output signals. An additional port also offers the option of high-speed video or streak camera, allowing multiple, long-lasting or high temporal resolution capabilities.
“The high-performance level of the SIMD32 will also allow my research team to explore the use of the camera at neighbouring ESRF and EuXFEL facilities to capture ultra-fast x-ray radiographs of these challenging transient events,” added Bland.
The camera allows the number of images captured to be double the number of channels. CCD sensors in the SIMD32 camera allow the user heavy control over interframe time, gain and exposure to capture difficult or fleeting phenomena.
“Within an hour of delivery, the camera was set up by me and the sales director from Specialised Imaging, capturing images of an 80kV electrical arc in air at 100m frames per second,” said Bland. “After some adjustment, the camera captured at 333m frames per second and showed the propagation of plasma streamer between the electrodes, which, when measured using the camera’s software calibration and measurement function, was travelling at approximately 280km per second."
Only three months ago, Specialised Imaging’s Kirana ultra-high speed video camera was chosen by University of Dresden (Germany) researchers over other comparable cameras on the market.
